Trash-leaf bag buddy

ABSTRACT

This invention is intended to be used for yard work such as bagging fallen leaves, trash or lawn and hedge clippings or construction waste or any other type of material gathering procedure which can use this device. 
     This device can be used by janitorial cleaning help. Instead of dragging around a trash bin, they can simply mount a trash bag in the frame and walk around holding the handle of the frame and sweep trash directly into the bag. 
     Using this invention allows the person gathering and bagging leaves and other lawn trash, to be able to set the fixture on the ground with a leaf bag attached. 
     The fixture will hold the bag in place with the mouth held open even on a windy day. 
     The person bagging the trash just have to rake the waste material up to the mouth of the bag and shove it in. This eliminates having to lift the waste in order to put it in a vertical container. 
     This invention is the only device of its kind which affords such advantages. 
     It is designed to simplify the bagging of the type of waste described. 
     Using this invention in the manner described eliminates the frequent need to be bending and lifting which is required to bag this type of waste by conventional methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention describes an item called the “Trash Leaf bag Buddy”. The purpose of the invention is to provide an easy and practical means to load a full size trash bag with leaves or common light weight yard waste without having to use a trash container. This invention provides a way to secure the bag to the ground and have the mouth of the bag open and set, to be loaded with trash.

This invention fills a need which becomes very obvious for home owners and lawn care contractors, especially in areas of the country where the leaves begins to fall in late September.

The abundance of leaves which may be required to be raked and bagged in ones yard becomes a daunting task. This invention makes the task easier.

This invention utilizes a sturdy mounting frame on which the leaf bag will be mounted. The frame is adjustable and will accommodate various sizes of trash bags. With the “Trash-Leaf Bag Buddy” one can place as many bags as desired in an area and proceed to rake the leaves into the open bags. The mouth of the bags remains open by means of the hardware provided in this invention. The bag is also firmly secured to the ground so that the winds will not blow away the bags.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The current way that garbage/Leaf bags have being loaded is that they

-   -   are placed vertically in a stand or trash bin or are laid on the         ground. The person loading the bags has to gather the leaves or         yard trash onto a flat ground mounted tray. When the tray is         full, the person has to bend over and pick up the tray and load         the trash into a trash can.     -   After the trash bag is full and placed in the can, they have to         remove it from the can by lifting it out, tie the bag mouth and         place it at curb side for pick up by trash collections or store         on premises for composting.     -   If a trash bag is loaded by simply placing it on the ground and         stuffing it with trash, each time they load the bag, they have         to hold the mouth of the bag open and at the same time attempt         to hold the bag erect.     -   Some of the hardware on the current inventions are large and         cumbersome and require sizable storage space to store after         using.     -   My invention referred to as the “Trash Leaf Bag Buddy” provides         the following advantages above all current inventions and         practices.     -   a) Bending over by the person filling the bags is minimized         considerably.     -   b) There is no need for a trash can. The person simply rakes the         trash into the bag which is mounted on a frame and set in the         ground.     -   c) There is no need to have one person scoop the trash up onto a         tray and another person to pick up a loaded tray from the ground         and pour the contents into a bag.     -   d) Once the trash bag is mounted on the frame, it is secured to         the ground with the ground spikes. Only one person is required         to rake the trash directly into the bag.     -   e) The mouth of the bag remains open because it is mounted on         the frame and secured to the frame with the bag retainer. The         frame is adjustable to accommodate various bag widths.     -   f) When the bag is full, simply remove it from the frame, tie         the bag's mouth and the chore is done.     -   g) The “Trash-Leaf bag Buddy” is portable and can be moved and         set up at various places around the yard as is convenient to the         person filling the bag.     -   h) The person filling the bags can set up many bags at the same         time and fill the bags to speed up the work.     -   i) The hardware provided with this invention keeps the bag from         blowing away if the job is being done on a day when wind can be         a nuisance.     -   j) The hardware is very simple to assemble, very durable and         portable.     -   k) At completion of work, the hardware can be easily stored by         hanging it up on the wall of a garage on a hook. Minimum storage         space is required.

After observing and experiencing the many disadvantages associated with current practice of bagging leaves and light yard trash, the need for improvement becomes apparent. This invention provides the necessary improvement.

It provides a convenient and practical way to bag the leaves and trash.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a time and labor savings way to bag trash and leaves. With the help of the hardware included in the invention, one can easily deploy the bags in place, and load in and easier and more comfortable way than if the invention was not used.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 on page 10 shows a three dimensional front-side view of the bag mounted on grade, such as a lawn or yard where one would place the bag when loading.

The items which comprise the invention are as follows.

(New text added here) Item 1. Bag Retainer Rod: The bag retainer rod and clips are shown in the open position for illustration. To secure the bag to the bag support frame, the bag retainer rod will come down and the clips will be attached to the support frame and fasten the bag to the frame.

(New text added here) Item 2. Spreader Bar: The spreader bar is mounted on the bag support frame. It is used to hold the bag mouth open. It adjust in and out by sliding in the spreader tube. A friction fit is designed into the spreader tube so that the spreader bar is held firmly when positioned in the tube. The spreader bar is designed with a pivot arm so that when it is spread open, it pivots down to hold the bag mouth to the ground. To adjust the bag support frame to the size of the mouth of the bag, one will adjust the spreader bar in or out to fit the opening of the bag.

(New text added here) Item 3. Ground Spikes: To secure the frame in place, one will insert the ground spikes into the ground. There are four (4) ground spikes.

If the unit is to be mounted on a concrete slab, then the four (4) ground spikes will sit on the slab and the spreader bar will flip down to hold the bag to the concrete slab. The ground spikes are designed to keep the bag frame standing when the spikes are not embedded in the ground. This works for mounting the frame on a concrete slab.

(New text added here) Handle: Item 4. FIG. 2 on page 10 shows a front view of the invention. The handle is shown mounted on the spreader tube. The spreader tube is made of a synthetic rubber material and is used to retain the bag frame and the spreader bars. With the hooked ends inserted into the tube, the frames will not pull apart.

FIG. 3 on page 11 is an enlarged section showing both Spreader bars inserted in the spreader tube. The ground spikes are shown at both ends of the spreader bars.

FIG. 4 on page 11 shows the ground spikes inserted in the ground and is attached to the bag support frame by tack welding.

FIG. 5 on page 11 shows a section of the bag support frame with the bag retainer and clips holding the trash bag in place.

The drawings are not intended to be manufacturers shop drawings, however the drawings cover the description of the invention and how it will function. Manufacturing methods and materials types and material gages will be resolved in manufacturing.

A brief discussion of the possible materials with which the “Trash leaf Bag Buddy” is made of, will be discussed here.

-   -   a) The bag support frame will be made of ⅜ inch galvanized metal         rod.     -   b) The “Spreader Tube” will be made of a flexible hollow         material such as plastic, rubber or PVC.     -   c) The Retainer Bar will be made of ¼ inch galvanized steel rod.     -   d) Item Number 3 will be used to hold the bag in place. The         clips will be made of 8 gage galvanized wire. The clips will be         pre-tensioned to hold the bag in place.     -   e) The ground spikes will be made of ⅜ inch galvanized steel         rod. The ends which are inserted into the soil will be pointed         to penetrate the ground. If the frame is mounted on a concrete         slab or on an asphalt driveway, the ground spike will simply sit         on top of the hard surface. The spreader bar will pivot down to         sit on the hard surface.     -   f) The Handle on the spreader tube will be made of a sturdy ⅜″         diameter steel rod with a handle. It will be attached to the         spreader tube and be used to carry the bag frame assembly.

This handle makes the assembly very portable and easy to use and convey from place to place.

Operation

The operation is as follows:

-   -   a) Open the trash bag and mount it on the bag support frame.     -   b) Position the bag retainer so that the clips snaps onto the         bag support frame in order to secure the bag in place.     -   c) Adjust the spreader bar and bag frame support to open the bag         to the maximum width.     -   d) Fit the handle on the inner spreader tube and set the tube to         the proper diameter of the bag.     -   e) Adjust the spreader rod to open the bag to the maximum width         where the bag meets the ground.     -   f) Tuck the bag mouth between the ground and the spreader bar to         secure it.     -   g) Push the ground spikes into the ground and set firmly in         place.     -   h) If the bag is being mounted on a hard surface such as an         asphalt or concrete driveway, simply mount the frame assembly on         top of the hard surface. Do not attempt to penetrate the hard         surface with the spikes. The four (4) spikes are positioned so         that the bag frame will keep the bag in place.     -   i) The bag is now open and ready to receive leaf trash or be         loaded with other appropriate material.

Comments

The above paragraphs describe the basic invention. However the specifics described and detailed in the drawings should in no way be construed as limitations to the scope of the invention. Many other variations are possible and shall be covered under this patent. The variations are among the following but are not limited to the specifics mentioned here. Under this patent the inventor reserves the right to change the dimensions of any component. This also applies to the materials of design, shape or size of components or all of the components in the assembly to achieve the results intended by the invention. 

1. Any and all devices and subsequent inventions and methods which facilitates the gathering of trash where the trash bag is directly mounted on a holding frame and the trash is introduced into the bag without the use of any trash can or bin.
 2. Variations of all fixtures which fulfill the intent of this invention, which is to gather trash or other waste or other materials of suitable kind which allows the person gathering the products, to be gathered without the use of a holding bin or can.
 3. A bag support frame which holds the mouth of the bag open in a horizontal position so that trash and debris can be loaded while the bag is deployed in the horizontal position. A bag support frame which is adjustable to fit various trash bag mouth dimensions when laid out horizontally or vertically. A bag support frame which adjusts to accommodate various bag mouth dimensions by sliding in and out in a snug fitting friction cylinder called a spreader tube. A bag support frame with hooked ends which fits into the spreader tube to keep the frame from coming apart. A bag support frame connected to steel rods which are attached to ground spikes. The ground spikes holds the frame sturdy when imbedded into the ground. A support frame which can be mounted on the round and imbedded into the soil or can be placed on a hard surface such as a concrete driveway with the bag attached to be loaded with leaves or trash. The ground spikes which support the bag support frame. The spikes are spread apart and are capable of supporting the bag support frame even if the spikes are not imbedded in the ground. A spreader tube made of reinforced rubber or other synthetic polymer material. The spreader tube is sturdy and durable and bag support frame and spreader bar is retained in the tubes by friction against the tube walls. A spreader bar which is fitted into the spreader tube and mounted on to the bag frame support. The spreader bar pivots down to be hold the bottom of the trash bag firm to the ground. A bag retainer which is mounted on the bag support frame. Bag clips are mounted on the bag retainer. A bag retainer which is designed to swing down to hold the bag onto the bag support frame. A handle which is mounted to the top spreader tube. A rigid handle with a hand grip which can be used to move the assembly around when the bag is filled with trash. 